Ocean Breeze

2-Ryan

"Ryan get up!" Ashley yelled as she rushed around the room grabbing her clothes while slipping out of the t-shirt I had let her borrow the night before. She yanked the blanket off of me in the process and I groaned in frustration.

"Ash chill out school doesn't start for another hour."

"I should've never let you talk me into shots last night knowing we had to be up early! I'm going home to shower and change. Pick me up in 20 minutes." She yelled as she stormed out of my room.

"Don't you dare be late Ryan Cooper or I will make your life hell." She added before slamming the door behind her.

Ashley and I had met seven years ago. Her family had moved in across the street from mine. She was two years older than me but we had been attached at the hip since. I was starting the second semester of my senior year and she was starting her second semester as a receptionist at the school. She took a year off after graduation and decided she wanted to go into administration and work her way up. It sounded like hell to me but it was what she had her sights set on.

I slipped my sports bra and shirts off and jumped in the shower. After a quick shower I grabbed my ripped black jeans off the floor and a baggie gray t-shirt. I threw my hair up in its usual wet bun and headed out. I had a few extra minutes and pissing Ashley off was a hobby of mine so I took time to make two cups of coffee. I walked outside to see Ashley standing by my jeep impatiently.

"I swear if you make me late today Ryan.."

"Shut up and get in the damn car. I brought you coffee so drink it bitch." I cut her off. "I can't wait until your car gets out of the shop so I can stop chauffeuring your ungrateful ass around."

She smiled and took a sip. "You know you love me ordering you around. You'll miss me when I get my car back. Don't act like you won't!"

"Nah, because that piece of shit breaks down at least once a month. By the time you get it fixed something else goes wrong." I said.

We bantered back and forth on the way to school. I pulled up to the office and dropped her off before heading to the student parking lot. As much shit as Ashley and I gave each other she knew I wasn't one for being late. I whipped into the first open spot I saw and headed to my home room. Coach Mathis was waiting outside for me.

"Jesus Ryan cutting it close huh?" He groaned.

"Sorry coach I had to drop off Ashley and you know how she is." Coach Mathis smirked. He had coached Ashley and I on the softball team and knew our friendship. Her senior year he led our team to a state title. We didn't have the same luck this passed season only taking 3rd place. "Alright kiddo. Here's your schedule and I have to say it looks like a cake walk."

I glanced down at the schedule seeing I had calculus, followed by English, team sports, and finally art. Coach grinned "I knew you'd be happy I was able to get you in team sports again but they didn't have a class to end the day."

"No problem coach, I appreciate it." I didn't have the heart to tell him I was ready to hang up my cleats forever. I just couldn't keep up like I had before. The last month had really taken a toll on me. I knew the first half of my day would be a drag but I was excited about art. I had always loved sports but art was my real outlet. Ms. Calhoun and I had grown close. She called me over the holidays to let me know she had decided to retire after her husband had fallen ill. I was disappointed and very curious to see who would be taking her place.

—-

The first half of the day had been a drag just like I expected and team sports had consisted of shooting the basketball in the gym. I stopped by the office to see Ashley on the way to art. She looked overwhelmed but her face lit up when she saw me.

"I swear Ry I am so sick of all the bitching and complaining today. No one likes their schedule and guess who has to fix it?! You guessed it Ry, me!" She said in a frazzled tone.

"So I see I came at a bad time," I laughed as I pulled a blow pop out of my back pack. I handed it to her knowing grape was her favorite. I despised it but she loved them. The phone rang before she could respond and I waved and took my leave. I made my way down the hall slipping into the art room just as the tardy bell rang. I found my seat in the back corner at a table with my friends Jessica and Megan. I was excited about art but I felt exhausted.

I looked up for the front of the room and saw the backside of a woman as she was bending over retrieving a stack of papers. Damn. As much as I loved Ms. Calhoun she had never been much to look at. The brunette turned around and handed the stack of papers to Victoria who was begging to pass them out. The brunette was gorgeous. Her shirt was unbutton just enough to reveal a small amount of cleavage and her pants did nothing to hide her obviously toned legs. She had a hot body but her face was almost breathtaking. No way she was a teacher.

"Shes fucking hot for a teacher" Jessica said. "I mean damn Ryan you're drooling like a dog."

I stuck my middle finger up at her as the teacher started talking. I was mesmerized up until she said we would be going around the room introducing ourselves and our wants for the future. I looked away and then back at her catching her eyes with my own. I couldn't look away. She held eye contact for what felt like minutes. She finally looked away.

"Dude what the hell was that?!" Megan whispered loudly. "Do you know her?"

"No, I've never seen her before," I whispered back, knowing if I had there was no way I would have forgotten a face like that. I was growing tired and bored as everyone went around the room. I realized everyone was finished and wondered if I would be able to get out of this introduction crap. Until I heard my name from the front of the room.